When to visit Bordeaux: harvest in September, Fête le Vin in July or a quiet winter?
4 min read
The answer first
If wine is the reason for your trip, go in September: the half-day Saint-Émilion wine tour and village visit (€85, rated 4.8/5 from 1,749 reviews) runs all year, and in September the village also holds its harvest ceremony. If you want the city itself in festival mood, aim for the next Fête le Vin in July. In winter Bordeaux still works, as long as you plan indoor hours and a boat with a closed room.
September: the harvest ceremony in Saint-Émilion
The Ban des Vendanges of the Jurade de Saint-Émilion is listed as an event on the third Sunday of September. Black-robed jurats proclaim the start of the harvest from the Tour du Roy, there is a procession through the streets, and the public ceremony is free to watch. Tastings during the event may carry a fee, according to the listing. Confirm the date with the organiser at vins-saint-emilion.com before you plan around it. We have no official harvest date for any estate: when the grapes come in depends on the vintage, and the tour pages do not promise it.
Check availability and prices for the half-day Saint-Émilion tour
July: Fête le Vin
France.fr lists the next Bordeaux Wine Festival for 7 to 11 July 2027. The listing describes wines from Bordeaux and Nouvelle-Aquitaine, a food market, tall ships on the Garonne quays, a night drone show and family activities, plus a tasting pass. A listing is not a programme: check the festival’s own site for tickets and hours when the date gets closer. Outside the festival dates there is no festival, so do not base a trip in another July on it.
Whatever the month, a Garonne cruise shows the quays from the water. The cruise with a glass of wine and canelé lasts 1.5 hours, costs €19 and is rated 4.4/5 from 4,210 reviews. Its page lists a rooftop with a 360-degree view and an air-conditioned room for 150 people, so it works in warm weather and on a day you would rather sit inside. It sails even with a single passenger.
Check availability and prices for the Garonne cruise
Winter: plan the indoor hours
The booking page of the dinosaur show at the Bassins des Lumières says the Bassins are cool in winter and asks you to bring something warm. It costs €16, lasts 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes and is not recommended for children under 2 or for people with epilepsy and photosensitivity. The page lists strollers as allowed, with a baby carrier recommended. Only a few reviews exist so far (22), so treat the 4.5/5 as a first impression.
Check availability and prices for the Bassins des Lumières dinosaur ticket
For more rooms with a roof, see our overview of museums and indoor activities in Bordeaux and the rainy-day guide.
Which month for whom
| You want | Best bet | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Wine and the harvest atmosphere | September, third Sunday | Ban des Vendanges in Saint-Émilion |
| A city festival | July 2027 | Fête le Vin is listed for 7 to 11 July |
| The river from the water | Any month | Garonne cruise with a covered room |
| Something dry and indoors | Winter | Bassins des Lumières, warm clothes |
Our recommendation
Pick the month by what you want to see, and book the half-day Saint-Émilion tour whenever you go: it is the most reviewed half-day tour from Bordeaux to Saint-Émilion, and you can book it for dates throughout the year. Add the cruise on the day the weather is good. For the full comparison of the trips to the village, read our Saint-Émilion guide.
